To highlight Black History Month, the Shorewood School District will hold multiple events and activities throughout the month of February.
Shorewood High School students plan to hold a Black History Month celebration, which will take place on Monday, February 11th* and will include two different performances.
Shorewood High School students plan to hold a Black History Month celebration, which will take place on Monday, February 11th* and will include two different performances.
*NOTE CHANGE OF DATE: Due to many missed rehearsal dates from the snow/cold days, the 2019 Black History Month celebration has been moved to Monday, February 11 at 7PM in the SHS Auditorium. We hope you join us at the celebration on the 11th!
The theme for this year’s celebration—selected by the students—is “Culture.” After providing a definition of culture, the students will engage, inform, and educate the audience around topics such as hair, food, family, music, dance, important figures who have significantly impacted culture and poetry.
The program will also feature a special guest speaker, Kwabena Nixon, who is a nationally renowned spoken word artist, writer, educator, organizer and motivational speaker. Mr. Nixon will be performing 3-4 selected poetry pieces and blended these pieces with educational narrative for the audience regarding how African American culture and determination are key factors in ensuring important voice and motivation to move positively forward. Learn more about Mr. Nixon here.
All Shorewood High School and Shorewood Intermediate School students will attend the performance during the morning of Monday, February 11. Upon the conclusion of the production, students will have the opportunity to stay and participate in a talk back session with Mr. Nixon, which will be optional for students. A production for the public, with free admission, will take place at 7 p.m. the evening of February 11 and a talk back session will also occur after this performance.
In addition to the performances at the High School, the elementary schools will also host activities.
Lake Bluff Elementary School plans to bring in author and guest speaker, Deanna Singh, on February 15 to speak with students about her books I Am a Girl of Color and I Am a Boy of Color, and to discuss the concept of having pride in your own identity.
Atwater Elementary School will have daily announcements during which students will share information on famous and inspiring living African Americans. Students are also planning to incorporate African American inspired music into the All-School Crew work for February.
The Youth Rising Up student group will also be coming from Shorewood High School to work with students at both elementary schools (Atwater on February 12; Lake Bluff on February 14), and Sista Strings has been invited to perform at both elementary schools (Atwater on February 22 at 9:15 a.m.; Lake Bluff on Feb 19 at 9:15 a.m.)
At Shorewood Intermediate School, a large Black History Month timeline has been posted in the Commons area, and students have participated in a Black History Month trivia contest. The Ally Club, a group of students who advocate for equality in Shorewood Intermediate School, encouraged teachers and students to take the time to talk about black history by researching famous black people throughout history. Ally Club students provided each teacher with a poster and brief biography of a significant member of the black community for them to talk about in class. During the month of February, SIS teachers have talked about the famous person they were given.
More details on the above activities will be forthcoming.
(Event poster pictured: Created by SHS junior, Sofia Fardella)
More details on the above activities will be forthcoming.
(Event poster pictured: Created by SHS junior, Sofia Fardella)